LaMelo Ball to announce shock retirement?

Sad news for Ball fans. Speculation had been rife that Hornets All-Star playmaker will announce his retirement from sports, at age 24, with immediate effect.

UPDATE 11/04/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Being a basketball player isn't fun anymore

“As we get older, there are phases of life that we enter into, and being a basketball player just isn't fun anymore,” he might have said, says a source who remained anonymous. Other reports hinted that he may branch out into other creative fields he is better at (and more interested in), though they didn't provide any details.

#ThankYouLaMelo

For a little while on Friday evening, #ThankYouLaMelo was a trending hashtag on Twitter. As many fans reminisce and look back on all the unforgettable memories, some may wonder what about now made him make the decision.

“You’ve accomplished everything I ever dreamed of #ThankYouLaMelo.”
— @DesireePlum, 10 Apr 2026

“Ball wasn't retired?”
— @borisB0, 10 Apr 2026

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